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THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE E-LETTER
FEBRUARY 2020
 
 
 
 
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CAMPUS LIFE 
MULTIMEDIA
 
   
A student dressed as Uncle Sam proclaims his answer Slideshow:
Trivial-Quadrivial Pursuits – CA
 
     
Clad in black coats and hats, students pose at the Mafia at Trivial Quadrivial Pursuit. Slideshow:
Trivial-Quadrivial Pursuits – NE
 
     
Sunbeams illuminate a solemn Consecration Slideshow:
St. Thomas Day Mass – California
 
     
Students pose under holly wreaths at the Epiphany Dance Slideshow:
New England Epiphany Dance
 
     
Fr. Legge lectures in the Lecture Hall Lecture:
Rev. Dominic Legge, O.P.
 
     
Rev. Joseph Koterski, S.J., lectures Lecture:
Rev. Joseph Koterski, S.J.
 
     
Dr. Robert M. Augros lectures Lecture:
Dr. Robert M. Augros
 
     
Students pose afront the Capitol New England Students at the March for Life  
     
Rev. Dominic Legge delivers his homily St. Thomas Day Homily: Rev. Dominic Legge  
     
Enthusiastic students in red and white at OneLife LA 2020 Slideshow: Students at OneLife LA 2020  
     
Rev. Koterski preaches St. Thomas Day Homily: Rev. Joseph Koterski  
     
Joyous students at the Walk for Life California Students Lead the Way at Walk for Life 2020  
     
Dr. Timothy B. Noone lectures Lecture:
Dr. Timothy B. Noone
 
     
Students in the midst of post-skiing dinner at the lodge Slideshow:
New England Ski Trip
 
     
President's Day Novena ad  
   
  UPCOMING EVENTS  
   
Presidents' Day
February 17
 
   
Anniversary of the Death of
Rev. Thomas A. McGovern, S.J.

February 19
 
   
California Presidents’ Day Lecture:
The Hon. J. Leon Holmes
United States District Judge (retired)
Eastern District of Arkansas
February 21
 
   
Ash Wednesday
February 26
 
   
Don Rags – California
Evening classes only
March 3-5
 
   
Don Rags – New England
Evening classes only
March 4-5
 
   
New England Presidents’ Day Lecture:
The Hon. J. Leon Holmes
United States District Judge (retired)
Eastern District of Arkansas
March 6
 
   
Solemnity of the Dedication of
Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel

March 7
 
   
California Tutor Talk: Dr. John F. Nieto
March 11
 
   
California Lecture: Dr. Carol A. Day
Tutor Emeritus
Thomas Aquinas College
March 20
 
   
Senior Thesis Defenses
March 23 - April 24
 
   
New England Lecture: Dr. Carol A. Day
Tutor Emeritus
Thomas Aquinas College
March 27
 
   
Palm Sunday
April 5
 
   
Holy Thursday
April 9
 
   
Student Triduum Retreat
April 9-11
 
   
Easter Recess
April 9-15
 
   
Good Friday
April 10
 
   
Holy Saturday
April 11
 
   
Easter Sunday
April 12
 
   
Easter Monday
April 13
 
   
Anniversary of the Death of College President Thomas E. Dillon
April 15
 
   
Classes Resume
April 16
 
   
California Spring Concert
April 24
 
   
Second Semester Examinations
May 9-15
 
   
Commencement 2020
May 16
 
   
Memorial Day
May 25
 
   
 IMEMORIAM  
   
Peter Bachmann
December 15, 2019
Father of Rev. Mark Bachmann, O.S.B. ('82)


Robert Richard
January 22, 2020
Grandfather of John (’13), Robert (’13), Carmel (’15), Demi (’15), Jeannette (’17), Elizabeth (’18), Robert (’21), Thomas (’23), and Domenic (’23)

Mary Lynn Toland
January 29, 2019
Grandmother of Sarah (Susanka '97), Rebekah (Andrews '01), and Stephen Sims ('10)

 
   
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BICOASTAL WITNESS
Students March for Life in L.A., S.F. & D.C.

For 16 years the students of Thomas Aquinas College have made the annual, 375-mile trek to San Francisco, where they have participated in each and every Walk for Life West Coast. For the last three years they have also traveled some 70 miles southward for OneLife LA, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ annual event to promote the beauty and dignity of all human life. This year, however — for the first time — they participated in the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., thanks to the opening of Thomas Aquinas College, New England, last fall.

On the evening of Thursday, January 23, every available student on the Northfield, Massachusetts, campus boarded a coach bus to embark on the 400-mile, seven-hour journey to the nation’s capital, arriving early Friday morning. Upbeat and joyful, the students cast an outsized impression. They could be seen singing and praying all along the Mall, easily identified by their crimson TAC ski hats. “I think it’s really important for us to be here,” freshman Niamh McCann told a reporter for EWTN News. “It’s good to show that there are people who are learning and who are seeking the truth, and that this is what we find: that life is precious and worth protecting.”

On January 24, just days after joining the faithful for OneLife LA, the California students made their yearly trip to make the case for life on the streets of San Francisco. At request of Walk for Life organizers, they once again took on volunteer positions — directing traffic and crowds — and the College’s women helped to lead the parade, bringing considerable energy and spirit to the effort. Clad in their red sweatshirts, the students prayed, sang, and peacefully called for an end to abortion alongside more than 50,000 fellow walkers. Interviewed by NBC News, senior Peter Reilly said, “Our school and my friends have been praying for an overturning of Roe v. Wade.”

► Full Story: OneLife LA
► Full Story: National March for Life
► Full Story: Walk for Life West Coast
 
 

OneLife LA
OneLife LA

Students hold a TAC flag afront the Capitol at the March for Life
National March
for Life


Students at the Walk for Life West Coast
Walk for Life
West Coast
 

LiBERAL EDUCATION IN THE WORKFORCE
Catholic Professionals Advise Students at Career Strategies Workshop

On February 1 the College’s Office of Career Advisement hosted a Career Strategies Workshop for students on the California campus, who participated in person, and for New England students, who took part via video teleconference. “The goal of today is to give you a broad and overarching look at the process of discerning a career,” Director of Student Services Scott Benigar told students on both coasts. “That includes finding which job is for you, putting together a résumé and cover letter, and the interview process.”

Leading the discussion were three Catholic professionals, all with deep ties to the College: Vice President for Finance Dennis McCarthy, a Harvard Business School graduate who previously held executive positions at such firms as EF Hutton, Drexel Burnham Lambert, and Boustead Securities; the College’s director of operations, Mark Kretschmer (’99), who, prior to coming to work for his alma mater, was the youngest branch manager for Kinko’s, Inc., in the Los Angeles market; and Adam Mering, father of a TAC sophomore and the regional vice president at PeopleReady, one of the largest industrial staffing agencies in North America. Having worked for several of the country’s most prominent businesses, they were able to share their wisdom about how best to apply the benefits of a Catholic liberal education in the marketplace.

“I think you TAC students are what America needs — frankly, what the globe needs,” said Mr. McCarthy. “I encourage you to consider positions of leadership, because you’ve got talent. And with you in positions of leadership, I think we’re a much better world.”

The Career Strategies Workshop is the latest in a series of events sponsored by the Office of Career Advisement, including discussions on law and psychotherapy and a LinkedIn workshop.

► Full story

 

Dennis McCarthy speaks
Dennis McCarthy

Mark Kretschmer (’99)
Mark Kretschmer (’99)

Adam Mering speaksAdam Mering


 
 

FAITH IN ACTION
Highlights from the College’s Alumni Blog

• In anticipation of January’s National March for Life, Fox News published a story about “pro-life women [who] are fighting to redefine female ‘empowerment.’” Among those profiled were Unplanned author Abby Johnson, Live Action President Lila Rose, and Lauretta Brown (’13), a staff writer for the National Catholic Register. Miss Brown is a leading light among “a generation of female, pro-life journalists,” writes reporter Sam Dorman. The story goes on to quote her as saying, “People need to be aware that a pre-born baby’s complete genetic code — distinct from that of the mother — is present from the moment of conception.”

• After serving for two years in the Department of Defense as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter Narcotics and Global Threats, Thomas A. Alexander (’99) was recently appointed to a new role: Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. In his new position, which he assumed in November, Mr. Alexander is the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy on all counterterrorism, special operations, counter narcotics, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and stability operations. He also provides oversight of all organizational, training, and equipping activities for United States Special Operations Command and oversees a $14 billion budget.

Margaret Walsh (’15) is the founder of Secret Garden Educational Pathways, an online tutoring and remediation service for students of all ages with special needs. Her company, which is based in Southern California but offers its services globally via the Internet, consists of five teachers, three of them TAC alumnae. “We’re doing remediation, which is different from what a lot of schools do,” she says. “A lot of times the mentality that I hear and see is, ‘Let’s help you learn how to live with your disability.’ What we’re trying to do is say, ‘Let’s help you increase your abilities so that you can do more than what a diagnosis is predicting you can do right now.’”

► Faith in Action blog
 
 

Lauretta Brown ('13)
Lauretta Brown ('13)

Thomas A. Alexander ('99)
Thomas A. Alexander ('99)

Margaret Walsh ('15)
Margaret Walsh ('15)
 

CALL FOR  PAPERS
College to Host First Ever
Thomistic Summer Conference

For three days this summer, Thomas Aquinas College will host scholars from across the country who seek the truth in the footsteps of the Angelic Doctor. At the first-ever Thomistic Summer Conference, held from June 18-20, attendees will explore the theme of “Faith and Reason,” in light of the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, at a series of lectures and conversations held on the College’s California campus.

“We are pleased to have secured an initial list of excellent speakers, including Rev. Michael Sherwin, O.P., from the University of Fribourg; Dr. John O’Callaghan from the University of Notre Dame; Dr. Steven A. Long from Ave Maria University, and Thomas Aquinas College’s own Dr. Michael Augros,” says Dean John J. Goyette. “We still have remaining openings, however, so we are requesting papers from interested scholars.”

Papers on any topic in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition are welcome, but preference will be given to those that pertain to aspects of the relationship between faith and reason in the thought of St. Thomas. All proposals must include a titled, 500-word abstract and be submitted by March 7, 2020.

► Full story
► Online proposal form
 
 

Thomistic Summer Conference logo
 

LENT 2020
Pray the Stations of the Cross with the Students of Thomas Aquinas College!

This Lent, include the Stations of the Cross among your daily devotions. Thomas Aquinas College is making available to all its friends a five-minute video that features “The Franciscan Way of the Cross” as read by the College’s students, accompanied by the music of Chrysostomos, a student choir. The video additionally includes beautiful photography of the Via Dolorosa on the California campus’ lower drive —14 scenes that vividly depict Our Lord’s Passion and death.

Also known as the “Short Way of the Cross,” these reflections date back to the 16th century. Franciscan Friars have often used them, over the centuries, while preaching missions.

Those who sign up will receive e-mailed prayer reminders each morning, Monday through Saturday, along with a daily list of intentions prepared by Head Chaplain Rev. Paul Raftery, O.P.

Please join us in prayer throughout this Lenten Season!

► Sign up for daily prayer reminders 

 

A marble statue of Jesus dying on the Cross


 

 
     
 
 
 
 
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